Day-Long Tailgating Trashed for Chesney Concert

Also not allowed, selfie sticks.
Richard Cook,


photo courtesy of WTAE-TV

 

In an attempt to avoid a repeat of 2013, tailgating hours will be restricted for Saturday’s Kenny Chesney concert at Heinz Field.

The country star’s concert two years ago resulted in a mountain of trash and controversy that included 73 arrests and at least 10 large fights.

After more trash was left behind following last year’s Luke Bryan concert, Mayor Bill Peduto declared that "The continued trashing of our city has to stop."

To that end, the Mayor’s office Wednesday detailed a number of restrictions for Saturday’s big show.
 

Parking Lots

Parking lots open at 1 p.m. — three hours before gates to Heinz Field open (at 4 p.m.). Passengers in all vehicles entering the lots must also have concert tickets.

Code of Conduct

Police will enforce the posted parking lot Code of Conduct throughout the area. This includes bans on glass containers, tents, limos, RV’s, motorhomes, furniture, and personal Port-a-John’s. (don’t ask). Parking lots close at 7 p.m.

Boat Docking

Due to safety concerns, authorities recommend that boaters do not “raft” or tie boats together on the rivers.

Street Closures

From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday the following streets will be closed:

  • Allegheny Avenue from Ridge Avenue to North Shore Drive
  • Casino Drive from Sproat Way to Allegheny Avenue
  • General Robinson Street from Federal Street to Art Rooney Avenue
  • Martindale Street from Merchant Street to Reedsdale Street
  • Mazeroski Way from Reedsdale Ave to North Shore Drive
  • Merchant Street from West Ohio Street to Martindale Street
  • North Shore Drive from Allegheny Avenue to Mazeroski Way
  • Tony Dorsett Way from North Shore Drive to Reedsdale Avenue

The following streets will remain closed throughout the day:

  • Art Rooney Avenue from Reedsdale Street to North Shore Drive
  • West General Robinson Street from Art Rooney Avenue to Tony Dorsett Way

And in case you are planning some awesome selfies inside the concert, you'll have to leave your selfie stick at home.

“The selfie sticks can obstruct other people’s views. If you have that many selfie sticks, people won’t be able to see the stage, won’t be able to see the concert, and the other thing is that it can cause harm to other concert-goers,” Steelers Communications Coordinator Burt Lauten told KDKA-TV

The Mayor’s office says similar safeguards will be implemented for other major concert events on the North Shore this summer, including tour stops by Taylor Swift and the Rolling Stones.
 

 

This article appears in the May 2015 issue of The 412.
Categories: The 412